By Matthew Paras: Friday night, Fres Oquendo (31-5, 20 KOs) knocked Bruce Seldon (40-8, 36 KOs) out in nine rounds to gain the NABA Heavyweight title. What’s more important than the NABA belt is Oquendo’s win streak stays alive, and it sets him up for upcoming fights against heavyweight contenders.
The fight started off with both fighters jabbing and feeling each other out. It wasn’t long until Oquendo landed an overhand right, which sent Seldon’s mouthpiece flying. They fought the majority of the first round with Seldon’s mouthpiece out until the referee, Pete Podgoriski, halted the action with about ten seconds left in the round.
The fight continued as round two had more of a feel out round then the first as both fighters were missing their shots and jabbing their way to set things up. They ended up fighting in the clinch for a good chunk of the round, which Oquendo seemed to get the better of. He threw chopping rights and short left hooks on the inside that gave him the round..
Round three was probably Bruce Seldon’s best round, which isn’t saying much. Seldon started out very strong by landing a nice left hook. He followed it up by keeping the pressure on Oquendo. Seldon doubled and tripled jabbing his way inside, with occasionally throwing an overhand right. Still, Seldon was only active for the first half of the round and Oquendo displayed an impressive short left hook that couldn’t miss. Oquendo ended up stealing the round away.
From round four and on, the fight had a similar feel to each round. Both fighters would come out jabbing and Oquendo would get the better of it by adding an overhand right, that was his key punch to victory. Before Seldon could double up his jab, which he had success with in round three, Fres Oquendo would throw his jab at the same time to cancel out Seldon’s. Oquendo took rounds four through six using the tactics stated above.
Round seven was the most entertaining round of the fight. Oquendo’s right hand was starting to show its effect as Seldon’s left eye was almost completely shut. In the last minute or so, Oquendo landed another overhand right that hurt Seldon. Seldon reeled to the ropes, clearly dazed. Oquendo let his hands go, trying to get Seldon either down or out of there, but had no effect as the bell saved Seldon.
Seldon really had no chance from here on out. Being completely over-whelmed by Oquendo’s right and combinations he took a knee in round eight. Round nine was more of the same as Oquendo blasted Seldon with a right hand late in the round. Seldon went down and took the full the ten count. Time was 2:35 as Fres Oquendo scored his 20th knockout.